Best Trails in Maumee Bay State Park

Maumee Bay State Park offers 1,336 acres of not only the finest of recreational facilities in the Midwest, but also a unique natural environment created by the convergence of the land and Lake Erie.
The lodge, cottages and golf course are nestled among the scenic meadows, wet woods and lush marshes teeming with wildlife. The balance of recreational facilities with the natural world gives visitors a diverse experience in a coastal environment.

Amazingly long boardwalk through wide variety of wetland areas. Boardwalk is somewhat dated and will need some major repairs in a few years, but it was structurally sound on my visit. Tall vegetation somewhat obstructs wildlife/bird viewing. Observation platform allows you to see Lake Erie a few hundred feet away. Overall, one of the best wetland hikes in the Midwest.

Great strolling trail. Accessible for those with wheelchairs, walkers, canes, strollers. Plenty of places to sit and rest. Lots of wildlife. Dusk is a great time to see deer. Only con is that it's very popular and therefore tends to be rather populated.

A nice trail through the eastern portion of Maumee Bay State Park. The boardwalk is well-maintained and passes through marshes and moist woods. Birds of varying varieties, deer and wildflowers are almost always present during warmer months. Turtles and sometimes snakes can be seen near the nature center at the trailhead, which has good displays of local wildlife within. But for the view from one observation tower, the lake is generally not visible. There are several loops which can be used to customize the distance to your preferences.

The Black Swamp provides a variety of changing scenery depending on the season, and the raised wooden boardwalk allows for easy accessibility to these sights. It is a great short trip for greenhorns and seasoned hikers. Bountiful wildlife! In one trip I spotted countless warblers, wrens, chickadees, catbirds, cardinals, 6 deer, and a red shouldered hawk.

What I love the most about this hike is the lack of dog droppings on the trail dogs are not allowed on the trail, my second favorite is the wildlife,and the third is the changing weather and the differences on the trail the trees make nice shade. You can walk one mile a quarter of a mile or more.